Self-lowering jack



F. L. GORMLEY.

SE LF LOW ERING JACK. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 26, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

1.9 Inventor:

ErankLGormley,

' F. L. GORMLEY.

' SEL'F LOWERING JACK- APPLICATION FILED OCT 26. 1921.

1,437,753, Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

E. 2 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Fig.5.

Inventor: Q IhznkLGormlqg,

Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

entries PATENT orrica.

FRANK L. GOTRVMLEY, 0F JROOKLIN E, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOE TO A. NORTON, INC, 0F BOSTON, MASSAGHUEETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

snLr-nownamc ACKQ Application filed. October 26, 1921. Serial 510,538.

To all 2107101 in may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK L. GoR'uLEY, a citizen of the United States of America and a resident of Brookline, in the county:

of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts,

have invented certain new and use'fullnr prove nents in Self-Lowering- Jacks, of which the iollowi'ngis a specification This invention relates to lifting jacks and particularly to high speedjacks and has for its object the provision. of means for controlllng the lowering of the jack under the load supported thereby. i

The present invention is an improvement on the invention shown and described 111.

U. SPatent No. 1,329,665 issued Feb. 1 3, 1920, to J. C. Kopf and F. H. Schwerin.

The invention consists of certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be understood readily F or the purpose of illustrating the inven- 'tion, one preferred form thereof is illus-[ trated 1n the drawings, this form havlng been found to give satisfactory and reliable results although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention. consists can be "variously arranged and organized and theinvention is organization of these instrui'nentalities as herein shown and descrlbed except as required by the scope of the appended claims,

Of the drawings: I Figure 1 represents a vertical. section of a lifting ack embodying the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 represents section of same on line 2, 2, on Fig; 1.. II i I I I Figure 3 represents a vertical scctiono't the braking mechanism.

Figure 4; representsan elevation of the braking niechanisn'i, and Figure 5 represents a on line 5, 5 on Fig. 2.

Similar horizontal section characters indicate like parts throughout the severalfigures of the drawings.

In the drawings, 10 is the base of a lilting jack having the upwardly (intending cylindrical standard 11 provided w th bearing surfaces 12 for the cylindrical ram 13 adapted to. be moved vertically relatively to saldj stand'ar'd 11. V l

The upper end of the ram 13 has secured thereto-a head 14 and in the lower end of said rain is fixedly secured a nut 15. I

Extending through thernut '15 is arota table screw 16 having a steep pitch helical thread. r H

The lower end of the screw 16 has secured thereto a plate 17 resting on antifr'ictio1'1 members 18 supported by a fi'Xed plate 19 mounted in the base 10.

ji ibo've the plate 17 and keyed to the screw 16 1s a gear 20 which ineshes with a inion 21 keyed to the shaft 22Tpafalle-l with the screw 16and having reduced ends mounted 1n bearings 23an'd 24 w thin. an annex s'e'c- 60 125 secured to one side or the casing 10, I

11, by bolts-26' The shaft 22 has alsokeyed otherwise I secured thereto; bevel gear 27 meshing with a bevel P1111011 28 rotatable withthe This lifting shaft 29 gland 3 0 and its outer end is fl'at-sided, as

at 31, to receive the usual operating mechanot limited to the precise arrangement and has keyed or otherwise secured thereto the "ratchet 33.

Above said ratchet 33 and loosely mounted on the vert cal shaft 22 1s a worm gear 34 having a downwardly extending flange in which are mounted the pawls I with said worni .pit ch ofthe worm 38 is sufiieient to permit lifting shaft 29 extendinglaterally; from the annex section 25. p

has a bearingin the the saidworin to be rotated -the worni gearM when the load is being lowered and the vertical shaft is rotating a reverse direction and by the engagement of the pawls 36 with the teethof the ratchet 3-3 is imparting rotary movement to the worm The worm 38 is secured to a shaft 39 revolubly mounted in suitable bearings in the annex 25, said shaft having secured to one end thereof a worm wheel 40 in a chamber 41 formed in the annex 25 and closed by the cover plate 41 secured to the annex 25 by bolts 42.

The teeth of the worm wheel 40 mesh with a worm 43 secured to and revoluble with the shaft 44 revolubly mounted in suitable bearings formed in the annex 25.

The opposite end of the shaft 44 has keyed thereto a brake disk 45 partially surrounded by two brake arms 46 pivoted at 47 to the annex 25.

The annex 25 is provided with two curved ribs 48 partially surrounding the brake arms 46 and protecting said arms from injury.

Between the lower free ends of the arms 46 is a cam block 49 having fiat sides normally in contact with the inner faces of the arms 46 as indicated in Fig. 4, the arms being normally retained in this position by the springs 50 interposed between said ribs 48 and the arms 46.

The cam block 49 is mounted upon a stud 51 secured in the annex 25 and has depending therefrom the operating handle 52 by which the block 49 maybe turned about the axis of the stud 51 to separate the arms 46 from contact with the periphery of the brake disk 45,

When the load has been lift-ed, the operating device on the shaft 29 may be removed or may be disengaged in the usual manner so that said shaft 29 will be free to rotate in the reverse direction provided the frictional contact of the brake arms 46 on the disk 45 is not sufiicient to prevent the rotation of the said brake disk 45.

In other. words, owing to the ratio of the gears between the brake wheel 45 and the screw 16, a slight frictional contact upon the wheel 45 will be suflicient to retain the load in elevated position.

When it is desired to lower the load the operator actuates the handle 52 and by turning the cam block 49 about the axis of the stud 51 he causes the arms 46 to be moved about their pivots 47 thereby reducing the frictional contact on the brake wheel 45 sufliciently to permit the ram to run down under the load.

Should the rain lower at too great a speed, more friction may be applied by manipulating the handle 52.

It is obvious therefore that by this construction the operator may easily control the downward movement of the ram and cause it to move at any desired'speed.

The downward movement of the ram will be immediately stopped when the operator is released, the springs 50 return the block to its normal position as indicated in Fig. 4.

lVhen it is desired to lift a load supporte-l upon the head 14, an operating device is placed upon the part 31 of the operating shaft 29 and when said operating device is actuated the lifting screw .16 will be rotated clockwise and in its rotation will act upon the nut 15 and cause the ram 13 to be elevated.

The rotary movement of the shaft 29 is transmitted to the screw 16 by means of the bevel gears 28, 27 and spur gears 21, 20.

The gear 27 being keyed to the shaft 22, said shaft 22is caused to rot-ate during the lifting of the load in the direction of the arrow on Fig. 5 of the drawings.

The ratchet 33 will at this time ride over the pawl 36 and no movement will be imparted to the gear 34 asduring the lifting movement the brake arms 46 are in'suflicient frictional contact with the brake wheel 45 to prevent the rotation of said wheel and the shaft 44 to which it is secured.

During the lowering of the. load the screw 16 will rotate contra-clockwise and this rotary movement will be transmitted to the brake wheel 45 through the gear 20 and the pinion21 to the shaft 22 which will be rotated in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow on Fig. 5.

This reverse rotation of the shaft 22 will cause the teeth of the ratchet 33, secured to said shaft 22, to engage the pawls 36 and impart rotary movement to worm gear 34, worm 38, worm gear 39, worm 43 and the shaft 44 to which the brake wheel 45 is keyed.

It must be understood that the thread of each worm 38 and 43 has a sufficiently steep pitch to permit them to be rotated by the rotation of the worm gears 84 and 39 with which they are respectively in mesh.

Owing to the reduction in gearing, the brake wheel 45 will be rotated at con siderable speed if the brake arms 46 are 1. In a device of the class described, a

standard; a ram reciprocable therein; a nut in said ram; a rotatable screw in said nut; a shaft parallel with said screw; intermeshinggearing between said shaft and screw; means for rotating said shaft to elevate the ram; a worm gear-loosely mounted on said shaft; an over-running connectionxbetween said shaft and'worm gear adapted to impart rotary movement to' said worm gear only during the lowering of the rain; a worm adapted to be driven by said worm gear; a brake wheel; means for creating friction on said brake wheel; and gearing for transmitting rotary movement from said worm to said brake wheel.

2. In a device ofthe classdescribed, a standard; a ram reciprocable therein; a nut in said ram; a rotatable screw in said nut; a shaft parallel with said screw intermeshing gearing between said shaft and screw; means for rotating said shaft to elevate the ram; a worm gear loosely mounted on said shaft; an over-running connection between said shaft and worm gear adapted to impart rotary movement to said worm gear only during the lowering of the ram; a worm adapted to be driven by said worm gear; a brake wheel; means for creating friction on said brake wheel; a second worm gear rotatable by said worm; a second worm rotatable by said second worm gear; and a shaft for said second worm on which said brake wheel is secured.

8. In a device of the class described a standard; a ram reciprocable therein; a nut in said ram; a rotatable screw in said nut; a shaft parallel with said screw; intermeshing gearing between said shaft and screw; means for rotating said shaft to elevate the am; a worm gear loosely mounted on said shaft; an over-running connection between said shaft and worm gear adapted to impart rotary movement to said worm gear only during the lowering of the ram; a worm adapted to be driven by said worm gear; a brake wheel; brake arms normally coacting with said brake wheel; gearing for transmitting rotary movement from said worm to said brake wheel; and means for moving said arms away from said brake wheel.

4i. In a device of the class described, a standard; a ram reciprocable therein; a nut in said ram; a rotatable screw in said nut; a shaft parallel with said screw; intermeslr ing gearing between saidshaft and screw; means for rotating said shaft to elevate the ram; a worm gear loosely mounted on said shaft; an over-running connection between said shaft and worm gear adapted to impart rotary movement to said worm gear only during the lowering of the ram; a worm adapted to be driven by said worm gear; a brake wheel; pivoted brake arms normally in contact with said-brake wheel; gearing for transmitting rotary movement from said worm to said brake wheel; and a manually actuated device for moving said arms away from said brake wheel.

5. In a device of the class described. a standard; a ram reciprocable therein; a nut in said ram; a rotatable screw in said nut; a shaft parallel with said screw; intermeshing gearing between saidshaft and sore; means for rotating said shaft to elevate the ram; a worm gear loosely mounted on said shaft; ai'i over-running connection between said shaft and worm gear adapted tO il'lb part rotary movement to said worni gear only during the lowering of the ram; a worm adapted to bedriven by said worm gear; a brake wheel rotatable by said worm pivoted brake arms normally in contact with said brake wheel; a cam member between the free ends of said arms; and means for moving said cam member to cause said arm to be disengaged from said wheel.

6. Ina device of the class described, a

standard aram reciprocable therein; a nut insaid ram; a rotatable screw in said nut; a shaft parallel with said screw; intermeshing gearing between said shaft and screw; means for rotating said shaft to elevate the ram; aworm gear loosely mounted on said shaft; an over-running connection between said shaft and worm gear adapted to impart rotary movement to said worm gear only during the lowering of the rain; a

worm adapted to be driven by said worm gear; a brake wheel rotatable by said worm; pivoted brake arms; springs for retaining said arms normally in contact with said wheel; and a manually actuated device for moving said arms from contact with the wheel.

7. In a device of the class described, a standard; a ram reciprocable therein; a nut in said ram; a rotatable screw in said nut; a shaft parallel with said. screw; intermeshing gearing between said shaft and screw; means for rotating said shaft to elevate the ram; a worm gear loosely mounted on said shaft; an over-running connection between said shaft and worm gear adapted to impart rotary movement to said worm gear only during the lowering of the'ram; a worm adapted to be driven by said worm gear; a brake wheel rotatable by said worm; a member for creating friction on said brake wheel and normally in contact therewith; and a manually actuated device for moving said member from contact with the wheel. v

8. In a device of the class described, a standard; a ram reciprocable therein; a nut in said ram; a rotatable screw in saidnut; a shaft parallel with said screw; intermeshing gearing between said shaft and screw; means for rotating said shaft to elevate the ram; a worm gear loosely mounted on said shaft; an over-running connection between said shaft and worm gear adapted to impart rotary movement to said worm gear only during the lowering of the ram; a worm adapted to be driven by said worm gear; .a

brake wheel rotatable by said worm; a meming gearing between said shalt and screw;

normally in contact therewith; means for breaking the contact between said member and wheel; and means for limiting the outward movement of said member. A

9. In a device of the class described, a standarcha ram reciprocable therein; a nut in said ram; a rotatable screw in said nut; a shaft parallel with said screw; intermeslb means for rotating said shaft to elevate the ram; a worm gear loosely mounted on said shaft; an over-running connection between said shaft and worm gear adapted to im part rotary movement to said worm gear only during the lowering of the ram; a worm 10. In a device of the class described, a standard; a ram reciprocable therein; a nut in said ram; a rotatable screw in said nut; a shaft parallel with said screw; intermesln ing gearing between said shaft and screw; means for rotating said shaft to elevate the ram; a worm gear loosely mounted on said shaft; an over-running connection between said shaft and worm gear adapted to impart rotary movement to said worm gear only during the lowering of the ram; a Worm adapted to be driven by said'worm gear; a train of gearing actuated by the rotation of said Worm; a friction device for nor mally preventing the operation of said gearing; and means for varying the friction of said device. A

Signed by me at 746 Old South Bldm, Boston, Mass, this 25th day of October,

. FRANK L. GORMLEY. .Vitnesses WALTER E. LoMBARD, NATHAN C. LOMBARD. 

